Spring-gun.



R. M. SHANNON.

SPRING GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1915.

Patented. M51123, 19115.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q mm

Worsswr MfiHHNNoN.

R. M. SHANNGN.

SPRING GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

RQBERTTM SHHNNDM ROBERT M. SHANNON, 0F SALMON, EAHO.

ermine-eon.

digi -39119 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, i915.

Application filed January 11, 1915. Serial No. 1,638.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, ROBERT M. SHANNON, ofSalmon city, in the county of Lemhi and State of Idaho, have inventedcertainnew and useful Improvements in Spring-Guns;

. and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe'art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a spring gun of the cross-bow type, andparticularly to that class of spring guns intended for projectingaprojectile such as a captive spear, harpoon or arrow, that is to say, anarrow connected with a cord by which the length of the flight trajectoryof the same may be controlled.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide suitable means forpaying out the cord connected with the projectile, without resistance,during the flight thereof, and for conveniently re-winding the cordafter the projectile has come to rest.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for suitablysupporting, against entanglement, a loose unwound I length of cord whichis released when the projectile is shot.

i A still further object of this invention is to provide. a gun of thistype provided with a reel for holding the-cord, which is movable into awinding position and into a position to payoff the cord endwise, oneconvolution at a time, when'the arrow is shot,

thereby minimizing the resistance odered by the cord.

Still another novel feature of this invention consists in thearrangement of gun sights on a line with the axis of the projectile, andalso in providing means for holding the projectile in position to beshot and against displacement, until the trigger mechanism of the gun isreleased for shoot ing the projectile".

This invention further consists in the features of construction and inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter set forth in thedescription and particularly pointed out in the claims annexed to andforming a part of this application.

Referring to the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of thisspecification: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one preferredembodiment of my invention.

ig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing in detail the gun lock,trigger mechanism and means for holding the loose unwound length ofcord. Fig. 3 is a front elevation View of the reel for holding a lengthof cord wound thereon and arranged for paying off the cord endwise oneconvolution at a time. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the forwardportion of the arrow or spear type of projectile shown in position onthe gun in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the springcross-bow, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is mounted at the forward end ofthe gun. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the cross-bow shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of one end of the crossbow showing theshape thereof and the manner of attaching the bow string thereto. Fig. 8is a longitudinal section view through the forward end of the gun barrelwhich guides the arrow, and showing the manner of removably securing thecross-bow in place and also showing the forward gun sight in position.Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of projectile of the multiple prongedharpoon type. Fig. 10 is a detailview of the shoulder portion of thearrow shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side view of the arrow head shown inFigs. 4: and 9, and showing the beards in the extended position. Fig. 12is a sectional view on the line l2-12 of Fig. 11

.and showing the beards also in the extended position.

Referring to the drawings in which llke characters of reference indicatelike parts: The form of my invention shown n the drawing comprises a gunstock 1 and a gun barrel 2, the latter being grooved longitudlnally at 3to support and guide a spear or arrow 4. The gun stock 1 is recessed at5 and 6 to receive the gun lock and trig er mechanism, respectively.Mounted on he stock 1 and above the recess 5 is the support 7 having theapertured projection 8. :Secured to the support 7 by screws extendingforwardly through the aperture 1n the projection 8 and guided therein isthe spring fin er 10 the forward end of which is provid ed with the backgun sight 11. The forward end'of the spring 10 extends out over thebarrel portion to a suitable point for enthe arrow always remaining inposition to be shot when the trigger mechanism is operatedto shoot thegun.

The forward "end of the gun barrel 2 is recessed transversely at '12 anda U-shaped member 13 is mounted thereon and provided with aperturecorresponding with the aperture in the gun barrel. The U-shaped membeeris threaded at 14-to receive a wing screw 15 the shank of which projectsthrough the forward end of the gun barrel and into the recess 12. Therecess 12 is formed to receive the spring cross-bow 16 composed of aplurality of superposed leaf springs of variable length. These springsare suitably fastened together and the whole spring cross-bow 16 issecured in place by screwing up the wing screw 15, the end of whichabuts against the cross-bow and holds the same in position. The foremostof the leaves comprising the spring bow 16 is provided at each end witha knob 17 and immediately adjacent each of the knobs 17 is an aperture18. In stringing the bow the bow string 19 is formed into loops 20 ateach end, each of which is passed through one of the apertures I8 andlooped over a knob 17. Mounted at one side of the barrel 2 adjacent theforward p'ortion thereof, is a finger 21 which, when the gun is shot,prevents the bow string 19 from passing beyond-the end of the barrel 2.

The gun lock "consists of a transversely extending pivot 22 in therecess 5 upon which is mounted a semi-circular detent 23. This detent isnormally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the triggerpin 24 which engages the lower edge of the semi-circular detent. Thetrigger pin 24 is carried by the trigger lever proper 25 pivoted in therecess 6 at 26. The trigger lever 25 is extended as shown at 27 to formafinger to support against entanglement, a loose unwound length of cordasshown at2 8. It will thus be seen that when the trigger lever 25 ispulled the extension 27 will move to the position shown in dotted linesand allow the unwound length of cord 28 to be freely paid out therefrom.In order to set the gun, the bow string,- 19 is pulled backwardunderneath the spring finger 10 and over the upper portion of thesemi-circular detent 23; the arrow 4 is then placed in the guidinggroove 3 of the gun barrel 2 and pushed backward until its rear end isengaged by the said spring finger 10 to hold the same in place. It willthen be seen that when the trigger 25 is pulled the trigger pin 24' willbecome disengaged from the lower end of the semi-circular detent 23,whereupon the force of the bent bow 16 will act upon the bow string 19pulling it forward with intense force against the rear end of the arrow4, projecting the latter along the guiding groove 3 at a great velocity.In order to re- .turn the semi-circular detent 23 to its normalposition, that being the position shown in Fig. 2, an expansion spring29 is provided having one end abutting against the lower portion of thedetent 23 and the other end fastened to a lug 30 carried by the member27. A trigger guard 31 is mounted on the underneath portion of the gunstock 1.

On the side of the gun stock 1 adjacent the gun lock mechanism ismounted a hinge 32 which swings at right angles to the side of the gunstock. This hinge is provided with an arm 33 which carries a reel 34mounted thereon, said reel being provided with only one flange 34 and adrum 35 so that cord wound thereon may be paid off endwise, oneconvolution at a time, when the reel 34 and hinge 32 are in the positionshown in Fig. 1. The drum 35 is provided with a handle 36 for rewindingthe cord thereupon. Upon the stock 1 is mounted a spring catch 37 which,when the reel is swung back against the stock to the winding position,serves to lock the reel in place.

A stop member 38 is provided to limit the swinging movement of the reelto the unwinding position shown in Fig. 1. Each arrow, spear or harpoon,or any other type of projectile that may be used, is provided with meanssuch as 39 for tying one end of the cord 28 thereto. The rest of thecord 28 is normally wound upon the reel 34 but, when the gun is to beshot off, a portion thereof, equal to the distance to which it isdesired to project the projectile, is unwound and looped loosely aboutthe extension 27. Thus when the gun is shot the loose unwound length ofcord supported upon the extension 27 will first be paid off withoutresistance and when this is exhausted the cord wound upon the reel 34will be paid ofi endwise thereof, one convolution at a time, with aminimum of resistance." The forward gun sight 40 is preferably formedintegral with the U-shaped member 13 and extends directly over theguiding groove 3 and in alinement with the notch in the back gun sight11, both the apex of the notch in the gun sight 11 and the gun sight 40being in direct alinement with the plane of the axial line of the groove3 and the axis of the arrow which is guided therein. At the forward endof the gun barrel 2 and beneath the cross-bow 16 is mounted an eye 41the bore of which is in alinement with the socket 42 in the gun stock.If it is desired to carry an extra arrow such as 4 the shank of thearrow is inserted through the eye 41 and into the socket 42. It willthus be seen that a support for the arrow is provided.

Now referring particularly to Figs. 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which illustratetwo forms of projectiles which may be used in the spring gun of myinvention, each of these is pro vided with the member 39 for tying thecord 28 thereto and with an enlarged butt-end 43 maaiee 4' tit Torengagement of the finger 10 therewith to hold the same in place upon thebarrel of the gun.

The form of arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 4 comprises the butt-end 43,shank 44 and spear-head 45. The shank 44 is provided adjacent thespead-head with oppositely extending lugs 46 which serve tolimit thelength of penetration of the arrow. Also the spear-head of the arrow isrecessed at 47 to receive the pivot 48 upon which is ance to the arrowin penetrating an'object' but have a tearing effect when the arrowis'withdrawn. However these beards 49may be held in the concealedposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 by the collar 50 mounted onthe spear-head of the arrow and prevented from moving backward along theshank by the pin 51. This collar is rotatable and maybe slipped downover the beards 49, the latter projecting outward .just sufficientlywhen concealed to abut againstjthe sides of the collar 50 and preventthe same from slipping over the arrow head. N ow it it is desired toremove this arrow after it has penetrated an object such as a muskrat,otter or fish, it will only be.

a necessary to force the arrow inward a short distance and give it atwist. This movement will throw the beards 49 into the recess 47 and thecollar 50 may he slipped thereover and the arrow withdrawn withoutresistance. This feature is particularly valuable 1n spearing' animals,fish, etc., since it provents the arrow from coming out of the gameafter it is once penetrated, until it is desired to remove it.

4 Tn the multiple prong type ofspear, ar-, row or harpoon shown in Fig.9, the construction of the head of each prong is the same as thatdescribed in connection with thearrow shown in Fig. 4 and shown inenlarged detail in Figs. 11 and 12. These prongs however are connectedby oppositely curved shoulder portions 52 which prevent the projectilefrom penetrating "beyond the i point at which the prongs are connected.

Tt is to be understood that other modifications than "the forms ot'myinvention herein shown will, also suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art and that all of these will come within the spirit of myinvention in so tar as they fall within the scope of the claims annexedhereto.

T claim:

T. Tn a spring a captive projectile, v a i 1 a stock, a reel mounted onthe stock, a

reel mounted on said stock and having a length of cord wound thereon,said reel being movable into a position to pay out the cord endwise oneconvolution at a time when the said loose intermedlate unwound length ofcord is exhausted, substantially as described.

3. Tn a spring gun, .a gun stock, a captive projectile, a cord connectedwith the projectile, means for holding a loose unwound length of cordagainst entanglement, and trigger mechanism for actuating said means tofree such unwound length of cord'when the projectile is shot,substantially as described.

4. Tn a spring gun, a gun stock, a captive projectile, and a reelmounted on the stock for holding the cord, said reel being movable intowinding and endwise unwinding positions, substantially as described.

5. In a spring gun, a captive projectile, a cord connected with theprojectile, a reel for holding the cord, said reel being movable into awinding position and into anendwise unwinding position to freely pay outthe cord one convolution at a time when the projectile is shot,substantially as described.

6. Tn a spring gun, a gun stock, a captive projectile, a cord connectedwith the pro ectile, a reel mounted on the stock for holdlng the cord,said reel being movable into w1nding and unwinding positions, andmeansfor locking said reel in the winding position, substantially asdescribed.

7. Tn a'spring bow having an aperture at one end thereof, tips at eachend of said how adjacent said apertures, and bow string extendingthrough said aperturesv and looped over said tips to. retain sald stringin place, substantially as. described.

Tn testimony whereof, T have signed th1s specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

lROlBT. M. SHANNON. .Wimesses:

. QT. Ti. Moons, BEN l3. NnwcoMB.

